23.05.2008 23:45
Out, but with heads held high (2-3)
Cristina Collado
Barça Senseit has been knocked out of the semi-finals in the play-offs after going down against Interviú Fadesa in a game that Barça totally dominated. Interviú Fadesa’s five-man attack proved decisive in the end.
The atmosphere this Friday in the Palau was once again incredible with 4,000 fans cheering on the
side in this important game. The club gave away a thousand commemorative T-shirts and each fan
received a set of clappers which upped the noise level even more. Plus the ‘Dracs’
supporters group put up a banner reading “With this team, this support and some balls…
we’re bound to win!”.
All guns blazing
As the team had been promising all week, they were determined to put on a very different
display to the one in the first match. Right from the whistle they came out all guns blazing with
Igor testing Luís Amado with a shot from the left followed immediately afterwards by another strike
from Chico. Interviú’s response came from Marquinho who took his side’s first shot at
goal which Paco dealt with easily.
Constant pressure upfront and solid defence by Barça meant that the Madrid outfit had very
few attacking chances. The few they did create almost always came on the break, such as the one
after a free-kick taken by PC when Jordi Torras stormed up court and was one-on-one with Paco
Sedano who managed to save.
Fernandao comes on
Five minutes into the game Fernandao came on. His understanding with fellow Brazilian Igor
created more danger around the visitors’ goal but international custodian Luís Amado managed
to keep them out. At the other end Paco Sedano was also making some fine saves. Andreu Linares had
two good chances for his side, one from each side, but the Barça keeper was up to the challenge
both times.
Barça Senseit upped the pressure once more. Fernandao lofted the ball into the area for Dani
Fernández whose shot was pushed aside by Luís Amado. A short while later Igor dribbled around an
opponent and was through on goal only for the Madrid keeper to take the ball off his toes.
Goal that never was
Barça Senseit had two clear chances before the break. In the first, Igor laid off the ball
for Dani Fernández who appeared to drag both the ball and his body into the goal, only for the
referee to disallow the goal on the grounds the goal had moved and the ball hadn’t crossed
the line. Shortly afterwards, virtually the same incident was repeated by Chico and Fran Serrano
with the goal moving a few inches but the ball staying out.
Magnificent Barça
After the restart the game continued to be dominated by Barça Senseit. After six minutes the
Catalans scored their first goal, as Dani Fernández spotted Luís Amado was off his line and fired
home from his own half. Interviú had a good chance to equalise, as first Dimas’s cross shot
from the left was parried away before Gabriel picked up the rebound only to see his first effort
saved by Sedano and his second hit the post.
Barça Senseit’s second came immediately afterwards, with Pedrinho firing home from the
spot after Dani Fernández had won the penalty. The Catalans could have added a third, but Dani
Fernández saw his shot from the second penalty mark come back off the inside of the right-hand
post.
Schumi and Chico as goalkeeper/outfield player
With 6 minutes and 45 seconds left to go, Schumcher came on as a goalkeeper/outfield player
and in a five-man attack the Madrid outfit pulled back to equalise with two goals from ex-Barça
player Jordi Torras. With Luís Amado between the sticks, first Gabriel hit the crossbar and then
Joan Linares put his side in front.
Now one goal down, Barça Senseit opted to play with Chico as goalkeeper/outfield player. Dani
Fernández again had a chance from the second penalty mark but once again he hit the post. Right up
until the final seconds Barça had chances to equalise but the ball wouldn’t go in and they
ended up being knocked out of the play-offs.
MATCH STATS
FC BARCELONA SENSEIT , 2
INTERVIÚ FADESA, 3
FC Barcelona Senseit: Paco Sedano, PC, Chico, Javi Rodríguez and Igor
–starting five-, Fran, Dani Fernández, Fernandao, Pedrinho
Interviú Fadesa: Luís Amado, Gabriel, Jordi Torras, Marquinho and Schumacher
–starting five-, Andreu, Joan, Rogerio, Dimas
Goals: 1-0, Dani Fernández (26’); 2-0, Pedrinho (28’); 2-1, Jordi
Torras (34’); 2-2, Jordi Torras (34’); 2-3, Joan Linares (37’)
Referees: Felipe Madorrán and Gereta Ramírez